Doctors and social workers failed to protect a defenceless toddler who was killed by his mother's boyfriend after they failed to act on warning signs.

Kieron Barley died at 22 months old after his mother's boyfriend, Craig Lewis, lost his temper and shook him.

The tot's mother Louise Barley, 26, was jailed for 15 months for child cruelty, and Lewis, 32, was sent to prison for eight years for the manslaughter of Kieron.

A health visitor had raised serious safety concerns about the tot weeks before he was killed by his mother’s boyfriend - but she was ignored by her bosses.

The childcare professional had urged that little Kieron be placed on a Child Protection Plan, but her request was rejected by two managers.

Doctors had also failed to act when Kieron was taken to hospital with bruises weeks before his death.

Kieron was aged just 22 months when he was killed, in June 2011 at a house in Kings Heath, the Birmingham Mail reported.

Kieron Barley had bruises when he went to hospital

Kieron Barley died at just 22 months old

A post-mortem examination confirmed that the youngster had suffered two serious injuries in the final weeks of his short life − a spinal fracture some three weeks prior to his death, followed by a serious brain injury in the final days of his life.

Birmingham Crown Court previously heard electrician Lewis caused his vulnerable step-son "catastrophic brain injuries" when he shook him and threw him into his cot.

The missed opportunity to potentially protect Kieron was revealed in a controversial Serious Case Review, which has taken more than five years to publish.

The damning report also criticised a doctor at Birmingham Children’s Hospita l for failing to raise the alarm after discovering suspicious bruising on Kieron shortly before he died.

Kieron's mother and Lewis admitted the charges at an earlier hearing before they were sentenced in April 2014.

Cocaine user Lewis told police that the toddler, who had developmental difficulties, fell forwards when trying to walk, in May 2011.

Just three weeks later the child was admitted to hospital after he had stopped breathing while in the bath.

MRI scans later showed serious brain and head injuries, which the court heard, were likely to have been caused by shaking or an assault.

But the board has refused to accept its full findings, citing the long delays to the criminal case as one issue which may have led to inaccuracies in the findings.

The Serious Case Review lays bare failings over the death of Kieron, stating his death was “neither predictable, nor preventable” but that there was “undoubtedly considerable learning for all agencies”.

Stepfather Craig Lewis and Louise Barley

The toddler, the report said, had suffered development difficulties but enjoyed a loving upbringing for his first 20 months, when he and his mother had lived at a relative’s home.

But a violent incident at the home saw a health visitor recommend him for a Child Protection Plan in March 2011.

Yet, despite the health visitor's concerns for the toddler, the request was rejected by a manager at Birmingham City Council’s Children’s Social Care department.

Louise Barley was jailed for 15 months

This decision was approved by a reviewing team leader.

The report says: “The Senior Practitioner appeared to believe that if Louise Barley obtained her own accommodation then all risks/concerns will be reduced to manageable proportions, but this appears a massive leap of faith.”

The report said the assessment was “superficial at best and grossly optimistic in terms of Louise Barley’s capacity to safeguard Kieron, while the Team Manager’s authorisation of this piece of work is less than robust.”

It concludes: “The response of Children’s Social Care to the Health Visitor’s referral.. can only be described as inadequate.

“In response to a safeguarding referral, in which the referrer indicates her belief that the threshold for making a Child Protection Plan is met, the Senior Practitioner makes two telephone calls (one back to the Health Visitor and one to Louise Barley) and then closes the case having decided that the only issue is one of housing and that can be dealt with by other agencies.”

“Young Kieron lost his life after Lewis admitted losing his temper on two occasions and assaulting him. Kieron was sadly let down by those who should have been caring for him.

“His mother and her partner spun a web of lies to conceal the truth of how Kieron came by his injuries and failed to seek further medical attention following the initial assault. However, almost three years on from the incidents Louise and Craig have finally admitted their crimes and have been jailed.

“We hope that the result can provide some closure for those who truly did care for young Kieron and are pleased that justice has been done.”